Bible Reading: Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 6:25-27, 31-34
"Get in there!" said Finley, shoving her beach blanket into her suitcase.
"Are you still packing?" asked her older brother, Ian. "We're leaving in ten minutes! Here, let me help you." He jumped on the lid of the suitcase, holding it in place while Finley moved the zipper around the edges.
Dad appeared at the door. "I'll take your suitcase to the car," he said, picking it up. "Wow! Why is it so heavy?"
"Because she's taking half the things in her room!" said Ian.
"Well, they're important," Finley said. "I need my hat, my beach blanket, and three swimsuits in case I can't decide which one to wear. I need my sailboat to play with in the ocean, and I can't build sand castles without my pail and shovel. If it rains, I'll have my raincoat, my boots, and my umbrella. I also packed a puzzle, some games, and bedtime books. And my teddy bear in case I can't fall asleep."
"I think you should leave some things behind," said Dad.
"But what if I need something and don't have it?"
"Finley, I think something else might be weighing your suitcase down," said Dad. "Just like you packed too many things in your suitcase, you can also pack too many worries in your head--and they can make life very heavy."
"I thought I was just planning ahead for a good vacation," said Finley.
"It's good to be prepared, but there's a difference between planning ahead and trying to control anything that could happen. That's what worrying really is--being afraid of something you can't control. If you unpack your worries, your suitcase will probably be lighter too."
"But how do I unpack my worries?" asked Finley.
"By surrendering them to Jesus. He loves you so much He died for you, and He promises to take care of you. Instead of worrying about what might happen, you can have peace knowing He's in control. Let Him carry the weight of your worries." Dad unzipped Finley's suitcase. "Why don't we take a moment to pray about some of your worries now? Then we can lighten up that suitcase and start our vacation!"
–Elena Dee
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